Gramya Ahara (ग्राम्य आहारः)

Gramya Ahara refers to those dietary factors which are responsible for making individual prone to diseases and reduce one’s fitness as well as wellness. This specific term ‘Gramya’ has been used in association with diet as well as lifestyle factors that produce the similar effect on one’s life. This concept has been described while describing Rasayana treatment in Ayurveda. Thus, it implies the specific dietary and lifestyle components in individual’s life which necessitate use of Rasayanas in order to bring back the natural state of equilibrium of life forces and strength of physical body. Significance of Gramya Ahara and Gramya vihara: These factors play important role as causative agents in making one’s life weak on the front of energy, strength, vigour, vitality and other wellness parameters. Diet and lifestyle of this type render Dhatus weak and fragile which are the building blocks of the body, thus reducing immunity and increasing the chances of easy capture of various diseases. Acharya Charaka has made a clear statement saying that, all types of undesired effects in body can result due to Gramya ahara and vihara. Gramya Ahara (List of unwholesome diet)

सर्वे शरीरदोषा भवन्ति ग्राम्याहारादम्ललवणकटुकक्षारशुष्कशाकमांसतिलपललपिष्टान्नभोजिनांविरूढनवशूकशमीधान्यविरुद्धासात्म्यरूक्षक्षाराभिष्यन्दिभोजिनांक्लिन्नगुरुपूतिपर्युषितभोजिनां विषमाध्यशनप्रायाणां दिवास्वप्नस्त्रीमद्यनित्यानांविषमातिमात्रव्यायामसङ्क्षोभितशरीराणांभयक्रोधशोकलोभमोहायासबहुलानाम्; अतोनिमित्तं हि शिथिलीभवन्ति मांसानि, विमुच्यन्ते सन्धयः, विदह्यते रक्तं, विष्यन्दते चानल्पं मेदः, नसन्धीयतेऽस्थिषुमज्जा, शुक्रं न प्रवर्तते, क्षयमुपैत्योजः; स एवम्भूतो ग्लायति, सीदति, निद्रातन्द्रालस्यसमन्वितो निरुत्साहः श्वसिति, असमर्थश्चेष्टानां शारीरमानसीनां, नष्टस्मृतिबुद्धिच्छायो रोगाणामधिष्ठानभूतो न सर्वमायुरवाप्नोति| तस्मादेतान् दोषानवेक्षमाणः सर्वान् यथोक्तानहितानपास्याहारविहारान् रसायनानि प्रयोक्तुमर्हतीत्युक्त्वा भगवान् पुनर्वसुरात्रेय उवाच-|| (Char. Samh. Chik. 1.2.3)

Meaning: All morbidity arise due to domestic food in those eating sour, saline, pungent, alkaline, dried vegetables, meat, sesame, sesame paste and preparation of (rice) flour, germinated or fresh, awned or leguminous cereals, incompatible, unsuitable, rough, alkaline and channel blocking substances, decomposed, heavy, putrefied, and staled food items, indulging in irregular diet or eating while the previous food is undigested, day sleep, women and wine, performing irregular and excessive physical exercise causing agitation in the body, affected with fear, anger, grief, greed, confusion and exhaustion. Because of this the muscles get laxed, joints get loosened, blood gets burnt, fat becomes abundant and liquefied, marrow does not mature in bones, semen does not manifest and ojas deteriorates. Thus, the person subdued with malaise, depression, sleep, drowsiness, lassitude, lack of enthusiasm, dyspnea, incapability in physical and mental activities, loss of memory, intellect and luster, becomes resort of illness and thus does not enjoy the normal life span. Hence looking to these defects, one should abstain from all the said unwholesome diet and activities so that he becomes fit for using the rasayana treatment- saying this Lord Punarvasu Atreya further added.

What does gramya aahar include?

Charak in Rasayan adhyaya has describe gramya aahar to be consist of –

– Amla, lavana, katu, kshar pradhan aahar

– Shuska shaka, shuska mansa, teel-tail & kalka and ruksha content which have a very low nutritional value

– Klinna, guru, pishtanna, adhyasana, avyayam and abhisyandi aahar which are source of extra calories.

– Virudha, asatmya, visham aahar, and paryushit anna which have an impact on our immune system.

– Day sleeping, Indulging in excessive exercise and sex, Alcohol intake, which increases oxidation process and release oxidants and free radicals.

– Pshycological factors such as bhaya, krodha, lobha, shoka, moha which are cause for the neuro-hormonal imbalance, for example excess adrenaline secretion and inturn over sympathetic activity.

Pathophysiology due to gramya aahar

Due to intake of gramya aahar following changes occur in the sharir.

A) Mansani shithilibhavanti – Lack of exercise causes muscle atrophy ( abhadha, anibhida mansa)

Shrinking and weakening of the muscles causes increasing susceptibility to physical injury.

B) Vimuchyante sandhaya – Joints are vitiated so does the physic reducing the body activity.

C) Vidahyate raktam – Due to nutritional deficiency shudha rakta utpatti does not takes place. One can easily compare the hetus explain in vidhishonitiya adhyaya, pandu roga and gramya aahar.

Formed rakta dhatu is unable to carryout proper jeevan karma, poshan karma and unable to increase bala.

D) Vishyandate cha-analpam meda – Due to samanya between klinna, guru, pishtamay aahar with meda dhatu, drava guna vridhi takes place and that is the reason why syandan word has been used to explain vridha medha dhatu.

The hetus are similar to sthaulya and prameha hetu as explained in sutrasthan 17th chapter.

E) Na – Sandhiyate ashtishu – Majja – Majja dhatu is unable to reside in ashtidhatu. Due to nutritional deficiency bone marrow does not get properly stimulated and is unable to form normal erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets leading to pancytopenia.

F) Shukram na pravartate – Due to nutritional deficiency sarvottam dhatu is unable to be formed completely does leading to shukra apravartan.

In context of sthaulya too Charak has explained shukra bahutwat and due to aavaran by meda dhatu person feels impairment in ejaculation of semen.

G) Oja kshaya – Essential nutrients are not made available in required quantity does leading to symptoms of oja kshaya or depressed immune system.

Physical fitness is correlated with immune system function, a reduction in physical fitness is generally accompanied by a weakening of the immune system.

Lakshana produced by gramya dosha:

– Glayati

– Sidati (depression)

– Nidra

– Tandra (Drowsiness)

– Aalasya (Lassitude)

– Nirutsaha (Loss of interest)

– Swashiti (Dyspnoea on simple exertion)

– Asamartha chesta sharir manasinam – Reduced physical & mental activity.

– Nasta smriti, budhi – loss of memory & reduced intellect

– Nasta chaya – Loss of lusture

– Roganam adhistanabhutam – Cause for various preventable diseases.